Also known as the bird or the shuttle, a badminton shuttlecock is a projectile that is hit by rackets. It is the second most critical part of badminton play. With some feathers attached in a conical shape, a cork at the bottom gives weight to the shuttle making it able to fly across the court. This guide will inform you about types of shuttlecock in badminton and their uses and will help you through choosing between the right shuttlecock for your type of gameplay.
If you want to know about the shuttlecock-making process. Check out the following article.
Let us talk first about the structure of a shuttlecock.
Parts of Shuttlecock:
A shuttlecock has mainly two parts: The first part in the cork makes up to 80 percent of the shuttlecock’s weight. The next part is the skirt of the shuttlecock, it comes in two types:
- Natural Feathers
- Artificial Polymers
- A combination of both materials
What type of Shuttlecocks are used in the Olympics?
In Olympics, “YONEX AEROSENSA” is the type of shuttlecock that is used mainly. These GOOSE feather and lightweight shuttles are manufactured with extreme precision enabling a smooth and consistent performance by shuttlecocks.
Now, let us discuss the types of shuttlecock in badminton used worldwide. The 3 types are as under:
- Feather Shuttlecock
- Nylon-polymer Shuttlecock
- Hybrid Shuttlecock
Following are the details of these types of shuttlecocks:
Goose Feather Shuttlecock:
Such shuttlecocks are not very durable and easily get damaged by hitting the shuttle on the skirt side. Intermediate and expert players use this kind of shuttlecock. It requires more power to play with this type of shuttle. It requires expertise to play with such shuttles as they are brittle and a beginner could easily break feathers by hitting on the non-cork side. The feathers are mostly taken from ducks as the quality and aerodynamics are more suitable than others.
However, they are losing their popularity due to extra effort to maintain them. These shuttles have to be kept in a humidifier to achieve ideal playing results. This process has to be done hours before the start of play. This inconvenience hurts people and causes time loss. So, synthetic shuttlecocks are mostly used in international-level matches.
Nylon Shuttlecocks:
These types of shuttlecocks are made from synthetic polymers mainly nylon. These are a very durable type of shuttlecocks and are very suitable for beginner players because of their less chance of breaking. Players use it for indoor play. Nylon shuttles are very fast-paced and fly much more smoothly as compared to feather shuttles. A precaution is to be taken, however, that while playing, the player should hold the shuttlecock by the cork side rather than the nylon side.
Hybrid Shuttlecocks:
These types of shuttle are manufactured by combining feathers and shuttles. Such type has a frame made of nylon polymer and feathers. High durability and low cost have made this type of shuttlecock very famous. However, there is a downside to such shuttlecocks it is more than difficult to control the flight path of these shuttles.
Shuttlecock speeds:
Now, let us discuss the speeds of shuttlecocks in different scenarios and find out the most appropriate speed.
In Asia, the speed of 76(3 Yonex speed) would be most likely the suitable choice. There is, however, more for you in this guide if you are unsure.
As discussed earlier, 76 is the speed that will result in the greatest length of the trajectory of the shuttlecock. Generally, a slow hit shuttle will lose its momentum very quickly while one that is hit with more force will attain more velocity and resultantly distance. However, these assumptions are based on the condition that there is no external wind and minimal air resistance.
Furthermore, 4 factors greatly impact the speed of the shuttlecock. They are:
- Wind speed
- Temperature
- Environment Humidity
- Altitude
This means our calculations could vary based on which part of the globe we are present currently.
The following chart will summarize our findings on shuttle speeds and the factors influencing them:
Shuttlecock speed chart:
| Shuttlecock Velocity | Height above sea level | Temperature of Surroundings | Usage in Asia |
| 74(Slow) | Little above sea level | Quite Hot(29 degrees) | Very Less |
| 75(Significantly Slower) | On the sea level | Hot(24 to 30 degrees) | Very less |
| 76(averagely used speed) | On the sea level | Averagely hot(14-25 degrees) | Used often |
| 77(quite fast) | Below sea level | A bit cold(0 to 15 degrees) | Very Popular |
| 78(fast) | Quite low from sea level | Significantly Cold (minus temperature) | Used often |
How many feathers are there in the shuttlecock?
Modern-day shuttlecocks that are mostly used in tournaments contain up to 14-16 feathers tightly glued and then inserted into the flat side of the cork.
The process of manufacturing shuttlecocks is as under:
First, collect feathers of appropriate size. Wash them properly and dry. Manufacture the properly shaped cork. Layer the shuttlecock with color. At this time, feathers are inserted into the cos, and glue is properly applied to ensure strength. Then in the testing phase, test the speed, strength, and durability of a shuttlecock.
Conclusion:
After reading this guide, it is for sure that you know what kind of shuttlecock to purchase from the market. From types of shuttlecock in badminton to relative speeds, this article has cleared all your questions. The amount of money you are going to spend on purchasing shuttlecocks is dependent on the frequency of your playing as well as your playing style. If you are a regular player, you are advised to spend more, keeping in view the durability of the product. Moreover, looking at reviews could also be a suitable option. To add, if you are a casual player, a feather shuttle would be more suitable. But you also have to care about the feather shuttlecock as it can get damaged easily.
